Chapter 866

Zhao Linlin's 36D devilish figure is destined to become a regret in Yang Qing's life; this is not a woman he can just sleep with if he wants.

But these days are truly hard to endure.

The long night stretches on!

His wife and kids are in Jingcheng, he hasn't seen them in half a year; returning home, he flops onto the bed, stares at the ceiling in a daze—this empty life, this kidney deficiency seem hardly different.

"Could it be that I, Yang Qing, am destined to have an inseparable, tangled karmic bond with the girls at the bathhouse?"

"Damn it!"

"In Wuzhou, any somewhat upscale bathhouse has its owner connected with the Wuzhou police; it's better to be cautious."

"If someone sets a trap and catches him red-handed, this deputy department head's career would be over."

"Sigh!"

"Sleep!"

Yang Qing mutters to himself, pulls the blanket over his head, and can only hope to enjoy in his dreams the silky bliss of a dewy, lush bloom, the wistful clouds and rain of Mount Wu that break one's heart.

In the end, tossing and turning, he couldn't sleep; a beautiful dream remained out of reach.

The next morning, early.

Yang Qing, sporting two black eyes, barged into Lin Dongfan's office; upon entering, he saw Lin Dongfan on the phone, with a band-aid stuck on his neck.

Based on past experience and his own understanding of Zhuangbi Fan,

Yang Qing could tell at a glance that the band-aid was definitely not covering a wound, but rather a shameless hickey— a love bite sucked out by some woman with her mouth!

"Damn!"

"How come this guy is loved by everyone and makes flowers bloom wherever he goes?"

"Heaven is really unfair—giving this guy a prestigious family background and an exquisitely handsome, smug look; it's simply unjust……"

Yang Qing, full of contempt, dragged out a chair and sat opposite Lin Dongfan.

Mayor Lin Dongfan acted as if he hadn't noticed the wretched creature barging in opposite him, continuing his phone call the whole time: "... Delay? Let him delay. I want to see just how long he can drag this out..."

Lin Dongfan, holding the phone receiver, gave a cold chuckle at that point.

He then said: "Don't panic; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will straighten itself. The Municipal Party Committee has designated the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project as the pillar of our city's cultural tourism industry—nothing more than trying to put a tight spell on me. In times like these, we must not lose our composure. For now, let's leave it at that; later you'll meet the contractor again and tell him this is his last chance from me."

After hanging up, Lin Dongfan lifted his head and looked at Yang Qing.

He asked in surprise, smiling: "What were you up to last night? Look at you, you look like you haven't slept."

"It's all the fault of loneliness." Yang Qing glanced at the band-aid on Lin Dongfan's neck, growing more glum: "Zhuangbi Fan, you've changed—you now eat alone and don't even bring me along."

"Nonsense, I'm a decent person." Lin Dongfan rubbed the band-aid on his neck: "Yesterday after work I went for a gua sha session; it left red marks, not pretty."

"That line only works on your naive, sweet girlfriend."

Yang Qing threw his legs up onto Lin Dongfan's office desk, assumed a relaxed pose, and lit up a not-so-cheap cigarette.

Lin Dongfan was startled and hurriedly glanced toward the door.

Fortunately, the office door was closed.

Lin Dongfan couldn't help but criticize: "You're a civil servant—can't you pay a bit more attention to your image? Take your smelly feet off."

"If I have to act like a saint in front of you, what's the point of living?"

To maintain this comfortable sitting posture, Yang Qing resolved not to move his feet. Seeing Lin Dongfan's sullen, speechless expression, Yang Qing even felt a little excited.

Yang Qing asked with a smile: "Was that just a call with Ye Jiaying?"

"Mm."

Lin Dongfan said: "After Mortal Group swallowed Zhao Group, the original contractor Huang Jintang suddenly abandoned the project, leaving the investment of hundreds of billions of yuan rotting in the ground. At this moment, Wang Qigang set the tone, defining that project as the pillar of our city's cultural tourism industry. He's trying to pin me down, putting me in a bind."

Yang Qing narrowed his eyes with a grin: "Awesome! If the Cloud Peak Mountain Villa project ends up rotting in the ground, word will get out that you, Lin Dongfan, are incapable and are dragging down the city's development."

"You came here just to see me make a fool of myself?" Lin Dongfan frowned slightly.

Yang Qing took a leisurely puff of smoke: "As the saying goes, 'To catch a tiger, you need your brothers.' You hastily pulled me back to my post—don't you just want me to lend a hand? Spouting those crazy words."

"That's right—first, take your smelly feet off."

Lin Dongfan picked up a folder and slapped it onto Yang Qing's leg; Yang Qing winced and immediately pulled back those sloppy, long-haired legs.

Lin Dongfan spoke frankly: "No secrets between us—I need you."

"I don't know anything about building construction," Yang Qing said.

Lin Dongfan said: "I know you lack the ability to construct buildings; your mission is to take down Zhou Zheng—cut the knot with a swift blade! As long as Zhou Zheng is arrested, Wang Qigang's side won't have the bandwidth to keep an eye on Cloud Peak Mountain Villa."

Whenever Zhou Zheng is mentioned, Yang Qing's face sinks with gloom.

Yang Qing took a strong drag on his cigarette: "You're so certain that Zhou Zheng must have something wrong?"

Seeing Lin Dongfan stare sternly without speaking,

Yang Qing, sensing the mood, added: "Fine, fine, fine—pretend I didn't ask. Tell me, how do you want to investigate? I'll cooperate."

Lin Dongfan said: "Zhou Zheng is currently lying in the hospital, claiming he injured his head in a fall. But that masked man also had his head smashed by Zhao Linlin. The time and place match up. Do you believe he just fell?"

"Whether I believe it or not isn't important; the key is to have evidence," Yang Qing said.

Lin Dongfan said: "No evidence? Then go find some. As we said before, ask the Provincial Department Judicial Appraisal Center to conduct a pathological assessment of his head wound."

"I've already contacted the Judicial Appraisal Center, but the results may not reflect the true cause. Don't forget, Wang Qigang is a standing committee member." Yang Qing wasn't optimistic about this; the provincial web of connections is tangled—if it were that easy to maneuver, three years ago he wouldn't have been forced to feign illness and take a leave of absence.

Lin Dongfan actually had the same considerations regarding this matter.

Therefore…

Lin Dongfan had never placed all his hopes on the Judicial Appraisal Center.

Lin Dongfan said: "Zhou Zheng claims he got hurt in his hometown. Go investigate on-site, see if there's any surveillance around his hometown. At the same time, strictly scrutinize those who are testifying for him—fake testimony won't hold."

Yang Qing retorted: "Just that?"

This look of disdain seemed to say, without words, that his investigative approach wasn't exactly brilliant—there was zero technical sophistication.

Lin Dongfan, full of righteous confidence, shot back scornfully: "What the hell do you mean? Solving the case is your job; do you expect me to help you build bridges and pave roads? If I could solve criminal cases, what would I still need you for?"

"That's right, everyone has their specialty; from now on don't pretend to be Sherlock Holmes in front of me." Yang Qing smiled smugly.

Lin Dongfan furrowed his sword brows slightly: "Waiting for me here? Fine, I'll give you three days. If you can't find Zhou Zheng's guilt within three days, you'll atone with your death."

"How can this world be so beautiful, actors so passionate, why should I atone with my death?" Yang Qing tilted his mouth, cigarette dangling, his teasing smile undiminished: "Give me three million in funding, I guarantee results within three days."

"Get lost."

Lin Dongfan couldn't be bothered to give it another look.

He buried himself in reviewing the documents: "No money, just one life; if you have the ability, take it."